Antarctica is missing more than a million square miles of sea ice

Sea ice formation in Antarctica has dropped to its lowest level since satellites began monitoring the area in the 1970s. Over 1 million square miles of ice (four times the size of Texas) is missing.

As of June, just 4.5 million square miles of ice covered Antarctica. The findings have alarmed scientists and raised concerns over the impact of such slow-forming ice on the surrounding flora and fauna.

Why?
Although the satellite data from the past 40 years is limited, experts looking into it say the ocean has absorbed much of the heat generated by burning fossil fuels, natural gas, etc., and in turn, gotten warmer.

Importance and impact
Antarctic sea ice is crucial in regulating ocean and air temperatures, water currents and protecting the growth of plankton, which are the base of aquatic food chains.

Oceanographers warn that if the ice formation in Antarctica doesn’t bounce back to predicted levels, several species, including crustaceans, fish, penguins, seals, sea lions and whales that depend on the ice sheets for breeding, feeding, and protection, could be affected.